The paper, published in Green Chemistry, is the first time researchers have extensively reviewed sustainable technologies that convert organic waste, which includes food waste, from agriculture, kitchen, restaurants and the food industry.
The authors argue converting this waste into protein using these technologies could solve malnutrition, reduce the pressure on agriculture and food supply chains caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and fight climate change.
First author Ellen Piercy, from King’s College London, said: “Reducing our waste by creating an economy powered by nature is crucial for fighting climate change. We currently throw away billions of tonnes of perfectly usable organic waste every year but by using sustainable bio-converters we can transform this food waste into a valuable protein resource.”
Recent disruption to global food supply chains has significantly increased the projected number of people suffering from malnutrition from 841m to 909m people by 2030. Yet 1.3Bn tonnes of wasted food and 11.1Bn tonnes of crop residues such as wheat straw are being produced annually.
Fermentation is one technology which could make a difference. Arable farming produces 8Bn tonnes of carbohydrate waste every year, but if this waste could be fermented to make mycoprotein, this would produce the same amount of protein that could be had from 5Bn cows – three times more cows than there are on the planet right now.
Other technologies include employing insects to ingest food waste to grow and then subsequently harvesting them for human and animal consumption. These technologies are particularly efficient as they produce high level of proteins that are nutritionally viable.
Tim Finnigan, chief scientific adviser at Quorn Foods, added: "Protein from waste- It's a big deal, one that has the potential to revolutionsie our food system, and something I have no doubt can be achieved with the right level of investment.
“Exciting collaborative research is in place between Quorn and King’s College London on developing future mycoprotein to convert the carbohydrates found in arable waste (called lignocellulose) to protein. With the right focus, collaboration and investment a five-year horizon seems realistic.”